The mis-education of Sagara Sousuke

// Synopsis: Sousuke and Chidori are back in this 11 episode follow up to Full Metal Panic. Instead of mechs with protype Lambda drivers, Sosuke suits up in a souped up amusement park costume. When the war hawk sergeant who knows nothing but military strategy and combat is enrolled in high school, he finds that he may not survive the greatest challenge of his life.

// Review: I really enjoyed this series much more than the original. FMP was for the most part a serious anime with comedic and romantic elements. In that form it seemed like dozens of other titles out there with the socially awkward anti-hero that is the chosen one who must learn to master a weapon of awesome power and try to figure out women at the same time. But in Fumoffu they take the same characters you’ve grown use to and focused totally on light hearted ridiculous situations. It works well because Sousuke remains the same socially inept gung ho soldier that tries to apply all of his military knowledge to everyday high school life. Chidori is still the hot headed hottie that beats on him every time he liberally uses high caliber guns and explosives to solve any teenage situation that he doesn’t understand. And yet she is hopelessly in love with Sousuke, while he is hopelessly clueless.

/ It’s pretty funny seeing everything through Sousuke’s lens and how he misinterprets typical high school scenarios like field trips or teenage puppy love as life or death missions. Even though he has the same predictable response, each episode contains very different and silly plots that puts a novel spin on how Sousuke will over-react next.

/ Again thankfully the romance isn’t ham fisted. It’s apparent how Sousuke feels for Chidori by the lengths he goes to protect her, and it’s obvious that she’s got it bad for him by all of the moon eyes and hidden glances she sneaks. There isn’t an over-arching storyline, but rather they fit 1-2 stand alone stories in each episode. Some of the most entertaining humor is how it spoofs the drama in other anime when characters go off the deep end usually after Sousuke has blown something up or used his normal excessive force.

/ All of the characters are brought back at least for an episode. Some of the best are when Captain Tessa comes for a visit and the final one where a bio-weapon is accidentally unleashed in class. The same acting cast reprise their roles and Inuyasha fans will recognize that the actress voicing Chidori and Kagome are one in the same.

// Wrap up: Pretty decent animation, story, and characters. It won’t set the world on fire, but it will keep you entertained.

Entertainment rating: 4